Two brutal attacks occurred within the space of an hour near the Termini station in central Rome on Saturday night, December 10th. The violence left two people severely injured and prompted an immediate strengthening of the security presence at the central train station, with additional soldiers and police deployed, authorities said on Sunday.
The first attack came around 10:00 p.m., just a few meters from the entrance to Termini station. A 57-year-old Italian man was reportedly surrounded and beaten by a group of attackers. Surveillance cameras captured the brutal aggression, showing seven or eight people encircling the victim and repeatedly striking him, mainly in the face, before dispersing.
The violence was so severe that the man was left lying in the street, bleeding and apparently lifeless. Emergency medical workers rushed him to hospital, where he was admitted to intensive care with extremely serious, life-threatening injuries.
Police said the victim is an employee of the Ministry of Industry, also referred to as the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT).
Less than an hour later, at approximately 11:00 p.m., police were called again to a second attack near the Termini station. A bicycle courier was attacked and beaten and had to be taken to hospital. In earlier accounts, it was reported that the delivery driver managed to escape, but nevertheless the victim needed urgent medical treatment.
Investigators believe the two attacks are connected and were carried out by the same or related groups. A large-scale manhunt began overnight and continued into the morning, involving extensive searches and numerous identity checks. According to police headquarters, several suspects were identified and detained. Among those apprehended so far are a Tunisian man in his 20s and an 18-year-old Egyptian man, both with criminal records. The young Egyptian had already been expelled in early January as an illegal immigrant in Italy but nevertheless remained in Rome.
In connection with the second attack, a 22-year-old and an 18-year-old Tunisian were detained. Both are illegal migrants and are reported to be living on the streets of the Italian capital. Other individuals taken into custody include a 46-year-old man from Mauritius with a detention order and a 43-year-old Peruvian man previously accused of damaging a police car. In total, seven people were initially taken to the immigration office and four to the police station, while a subsequent security sweep ordered by the Ministry of the Interior led to the detention of sixteen more people.
The attacks also triggered strong political reactions.
Matteo Salvini, leader of the anti-immigration Lega ruling party said
There are many, too many. (Let’s) give the authorities a free hand, send them back, iron fist and zero tolerance.
Luisa Regimenti, Secretary of the Rome chapter of Forza Italia party, also member of the coalition government, told reporters that the attacks are “causing great alarm and concern” among Rome’s citizens.
The renewed focus on security comes amid continued migration pressure. Last year, more than 66,000 migrants arrived in Italy, and a similar number landed on Italian shores in 2024, adding to the challenges faced by authorities in maintaining order and safety in key transport hubs such as the Termini station.
